Don't Trust The Royals (Bang Chan X Reader)

Sunny-Side Up

I rubbed the petals of the rose Chris had gifted me absent-mindedly and listened as Seungmin, my advisor, listed the tasks for the day ahead. 

".....And your self-defense and war tactics sessions will be overseen by a new instructor as of today."

I placed the flower on my lap gently and looked up to Seungmin in surprise, "Who?"

Seungmin squinted at the paper in his hands, adjusting his glasses, " Commander Chris Bang, your highness."

I slammed my head against the breakfast table.

"Why me?" I pitifully whined, muffled.

Seungmin looked up from his list and rolled his eyes at my dramatics, "Commander Bang is head of the royal guard, you should be thrilled to have such a skilled mentor."

I pressed my head on to the table harder.

"But he's- Wait.. Where is he?" I questioned.

I picked my head off the wood and glanced around the room, rubbing the red spot that had formed on my forehead.

"Yesterday he was glued to my side," I stated, bewildered.

"The Commander is most likely in the training hall leading morning drills. After all, he's the head of the royal guard," Seungmin answered.

"Oh," I replied.

I felt deflated at this revelation and started rubbing the petals of my rose again.

Seungmin noticed this, and tilted his head, "Would you like me to fetch a vase for that flower, your highness?"

I felt heat rush to my ears and I looked down at my hands, "Ah, no thank you, Seungmin. If it's alright I'd like to hold on to it."

Seungmin nodded and bowed deeply, "I'll leave you to your breakfast."

I bowed my head in response, "Thank you."

Once Seungmin left, I glared at the sunny side up eggs and the strip of bacon on my plate that seemed to form a smile.

"Don't look at me like that," I seethed. 

However, the food stared back blankly. I huffed and stuffed the strip of bacon in my mouth, "Out of all the knight's in the kingdom, My mother just had to pick him."

I finished my food rather quickly and looked to the clock in surprise, "I've got twenty minutes till my first tutor arrives."

As I pondered on what I should do with my new free time, the sharp ringing and clash of swords in the distance fought for my attention.

"That must be coming from where the Commander is leading drills," I murmured.

I looked at the flower in my hands and contemplated my next decision heavily. I wasn't allowed to wander the castle by myself. Eventually, I buckled, a coy smile growing on my face, "I'll just take a peek. In and out, nobody will know the wiser."

I followed the sounds of combat out the castle, and to the training hall. The training hall was in a large rhombus-shaped clearing, completely exposed to the elements aside from is cement floor. I hid behind a tree as I searched for the Commander among the soldiers practicing their swordsmanship. 

Then, I spotted him. Chris had taken off his armor and was engaged in hand to hand combat with a man slightly taller than himself. Every step Chris took was smooth and connected. It seemed almost as if he was dancing, waltzing to a melody in his head across a stage. Chris kept his mouth pressed in a firm line, his eyebrows knitted close together, his russet eyes calculating and searching for his partner to slip up. For a split second, I could've sworn those hues flickered to my eyes before Chris focused on the man in front of him and flipped his opponent onto their back.

Quickly, I tucked my head behind my hiding spot and waited in a flustered panic, internally wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me. After waiting for my heart to calm down I searched for Chris in the crowd of soldiers, but he was nowhere to be found.

" What are you doing here, Your Highness? It's dangerous to wander about the castle by yourself."

I flinched and spun on my heel, running into a glowing and concerned Commanders chest head first. He dried the sweat off his forehead and the sides of his face with a hand towel as he waited for my response. Chris's undivided attention was smoldering and I played with my hands nervously under his worried gaze.

"Well, I finished my breakfast early so I thought I would explore the ground a bit and then I got," I trailed off softly, my ears turning a bright shade of red, " a little distracted..."

If Chris knew what I meant he didn't show it. Instead, he nodded and rubbed the towel on his neck.

I looked to my feet, when Chris spoke up, "I'll escort you to your first class, you're gonna be late."